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2021 St. Petersburg, Florida, mayoral election

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The 2021 St. Petersburg, Florida, mayoral election was held on August 24, 2021, with a runoff on November 2 because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the first round. It elected the mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida.[1] Incumbent Democratic mayor Rick Kriseman was term-limited and could not seek a third term in office.[2] Municipal elections in St. Petersburg are officially nonpartisan. Former Pinellas County commissioner Ken Welch easily defeated city councilor Robert Blackmon in the runoff. Candidates eliminated in the first round included city councilor Darden Rice, former state representative Wengay Newton, and restaurateur Pete Boland. Welch took office in January 2022, becoming the first black mayor of St. Petersburg.[3]

2021 St. Petersburg, Florida, mayoral election
← 2017 August 24, 2021
November 2, 2021 (runoff)		 2026 →
 
Candidate Ken Welch Robert Blackmon Darden Rice
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Alliance Democratic Republican Democratic
First-round 21,812
39.48% 		15,638
28.30% 		9,180
16.62%
Runoff 38,037
59.7% 		25,712
40.3% 		Eliminated
 
Candidate Wengay Newton Pete Boland
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Alliance Democratic Republican
First-round 4,123
7.46% 		3,421
6.19%
Runoff Eliminated Eliminated
Runoff precinct results
Welch:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Blackmon:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
No votes:      
Mayor before election

Rick Kriseman
Democratic

Elected Mayor

Ken Welch
Democratic

Candidates

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Declared

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Democratic Party

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Republican Party

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Independents

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Did not file

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Declined

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General election

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Endorsements

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Robert Blackmon (R)
State politicians
Local politicians
Labor unions
Wengay Newton (D)
Local politicians
Darden Rice (D)
State politicians
County officials
Local officials
Organizations
Labor unions
Ken Welch (D)
Federal officials
State politicians
Pinellas County officials
Local politicians
Individuals
Newspapers and publications
Organizations
Labor unions

Fundraising

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Campaign finance reports as of May 28, 2021
Candidate (party) Total raised
Robert Blackmon (R) did not file
Pete Boland (R) did not file
Michael Ingram (D) $1,611
Michael Levinson (I) $3,319
Torry Nelson (I) did not file
Wengay Newton (D) $16,959
Marcile Powers (D) $533
Darden Rice (D) $556,053
Ken Welch (D) $282,469
Vincent Nowicki (I) $22,117
[43]

Polling

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Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Pete
Boland 		Robert
Blackmon 		Wengay
Newton 		Darden
Rice 		Ken
Welch 		Other Undecided
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics August 21, 2021 542 (LV) ± 4.2% 5% 27% 6% 17% 37% 3%[b] 5%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics August 5, 2021 749 (LV) ± 3.6% 4% 25% 10% 16% 31% 3%[c] 10%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics July 22, 2021 644 (LV) ± 3.9% 4% 22% 8% 17% 23% 6%[d] 21%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics June 21, 2021 386 (LV) ± 5.0% 2% 12% 13% 12% 20% 7%[e] 34%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics May 13, 2021 527 (LV) ± 4.3% – – 12% 16% 16% 16%[f] 40%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics March 2, 2021 581 (LV) ± 4.1% – – 14% 15% 14% 14%[g] 43%
InsiderAdvantage/Fox 13 January 31, 2021 400 (RV) ± 4.2% – 6% 8% 7% 12% 0%[h] 67%

Debates

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2021 St. Petersburg mayoral election debates
 No. Date & time Host(s) Moderator(s) Link Participants
Key:
 P  Participant    N  Non-invitee    I  Invitee 		Blackmon Boland Ingram Nelson Newton Powers Rice Welch
1[44][45] June 22, 2021
7:00 p.m. EDT 		Tampa Bay Times
Bay News 9 		Steve Contorno
Holly Gregory 		Video P P P P P P P P

Results

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General election results[46]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Ken Welch 21,812 39.48
Nonpartisan Robert Blackmon 15,638 28.30
Nonpartisan Darden Rice 9,180 16.62
Nonpartisan Wengay Newton 4,123 7.46
Nonpartisan Pete Boland 3,421 6.19
Nonpartisan Michael Ingram 460 0.83
Nonpartisan Marcile Powers 404 0.73
Nonpartisan Torry Nelson 211 0.38
Total votes 55,249 100.00

Runoff

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Candidates

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Polling

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Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Robert
Blackmon 		Ken
Welch 		Undecided
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics October 26, 2021 524 (LV) ± 4.3% 39% 55% 6%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics September 22, 2021 484 (LV) ± 4.5% 36% 53% 11%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics August 21, 2021 542 (LV) ± 4.2% 29% 53% 18%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics August 5, 2021 749 (LV) ± 3.6% 28% 44% 28%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics July 22, 2021 644 (LV) ± 3.9% 24% 32% 44%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics June 21, 2021 386 (LV) ± 5.0% 17% 30% 53%
Hypothetical polling
with Robert Blackmon and Darden Rice
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Robert
Blackmon 		Darden
Rice 		Undecided
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics August 21, 2021 542 (LV) ± 4.2% 30% 44% 26%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics August 5, 2021 749 (LV) ± 3.6% 28% 39% 31%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics July 22, 2021 644 (LV) ± 3.9% 23% 32% 45%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics June 21, 2021 386 (LV) ± 5.0% 18% 28% 54%
with Darden Rice and Ken Welch
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Darden
Rice 		Ken
Welch 		Undecided
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics August 21, 2021 542 (LV) ± 4.2% 23% 55% 23%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics August 5, 2021 749 (LV) ± 3.6% 25% 47% 27%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics July 22, 2021 644 (LV) ± 3.9% 25% 36% 39%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics June 21, 2021 386 (LV) ± 5.0% 21% 36% 44%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics May 13, 2021 527 (LV) ± 4.3% 24% 31% 45%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics March 2, 2021 581 (LV) ± 4.1% 24% 31% 46%

Endorsements

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Endorsements in bold were made after the general election.

Robert Blackmon (R)
Federal officials
State politicians
Local politicians
Individuals
Labor unions
Ken Welch (D)
Federal officials
State politicians
Pinellas County officials
Local politicians
Individuals
Newspapers and publications
Organizations
Labor unions

Results

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Runoff results[55]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Ken Welch 38,037 59.7%
Nonpartisan Robert Blackmon 25,712 40.3%
Total votes 63,749 100.00

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ Michael Ingram, Torry Nelson, and Marcile Powers with 1%
  3. ^ Michael Ingram, Torry Nelson, and Marcile Powers with 1%
  4. ^ Michael Ingram, Torry Nelson, and Marcile Powers with 2%
  5. ^ Michael Ingram with 3%; Torry Nelson with 2%; Marcile Powers with 1%
  6. ^ Michael Levinson with 5%; Paul Congemi with 4%; Michael Ingram and Vincent Nowicki with 3%; Marcile Powers with 2%
  7. ^ Paul Congemi with 5%; Michael Ingram and Michael Levinson with 3%; Vincent Nowicki with 2%; Marcile Powers with 1%
  8. ^ Deveron Gibbons with 0%

References

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  1. ^ a b "Realtor Vincent Nowicki Files to Enter Race for St. Petersburg Mayor". www.baynews9.com.
  2. ^ a b c Hayes, Kelly (November 17, 2020). "'No space for cowards': Black leaders voice support for Ken Welch in St. Pete mayoral race". Florida Politics. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  3. ^ "Ken Welch handily defeats Robert Blackmon, will be St. Pete's first Black Mayor". November 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "USF St. Petersburg Student Files to Run in St. Petersburg 2021 Mayoral Race". www.baynews9.com. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  5. ^ "St. Petersburg's election season begins. So who's running?". Tampa Bay Times.
  6. ^ a b c "Ken Welch, not yet a candidate for St. Pete mayor, picks up two big endorsements". Tampa Bay Times.
  7. ^ "Wengay Newton files to run for St. Pete Mayor". December 19, 2020.
  8. ^ "Wengay Newton says no time for partisanship to improve St. Pete". www.baynews9.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Ken Welch's St. Petersburg mayoral campaign kicks off". Tampa Bay Times.
  10. ^ Alden, Michael (March 21, 2021). "Race for mayor kicks off with six candidates – The Crow's Nest at USF St. Petersburg". Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  11. ^ "Marcile Powers talks about why she wants to be the next mayor in St. Pete". www.baynews9.com. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Darden Rice files to run for St. Petersburg mayor". Tampa Bay Times.
  13. ^ "Ken Welch joins crowded race for St. Petersburg Mayor". wtsp.com. January 15, 2021.
  14. ^ "St. Petersburg Council member Robert Blackmon files to run for mayor". Tampa Bay Times.
  15. ^ "Restaurant owner Pete Boland enters St. Pete Mayor's race". floridapolitics.com. June 3, 2021.
  16. ^ "Torry Nelson". LinkedIn.
  17. ^ "Torry Gerard Nelson from St Petersburg, Florida". voterrecords.com. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d "The field is set in St. Petersburg's elections for mayor, City Council". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  19. ^ "'Go back to Africa' candidate Paul Congemi first to file for 2021 St. Pete mayoral race". Florida Politics. December 7, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  20. ^ "Poll: Race for St. Petersburg Mayor is wide open". Florida Politics. March 3, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  21. ^ "Michael Levinson". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  22. ^ "Lev Plan for World Peace". www.michaelslevinson.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  23. ^ "Wengay Newton explains cryptic comment about Ken Welch". Tampa Bay Times.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "Here are all the major endorsements in the 2021 St. Petersburg primary election so far". floridapolitics.com. August 12, 2021.
  25. ^ a b c d e f "Blackmon announces endorsements for St. Petersburg mayor". Tampa Bay Times.
  26. ^ "Senator Brandes – The Florida Senate".
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Ken Welch lands baker's dozen of endorsements for St. Pete Mayor". January 21, 2021.
  28. ^ Smith, Adam (April 20, 2021). "Political Party with Adam Smith: 'The mayor doesn't run the show,' says council chair Ed Montanari". St Pete Catalyst. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Robert Blackmon rakes in endorsements from Pinellas County leaders, unions". June 22, 2021.
  30. ^ Hayes, Kelly (May 19, 2021). "Anna Eskamani backs Darden Rice in St. Pete Mayor's race". Florida Politics.
  31. ^ Hayes, Kelly (May 26, 2021). "Annette Taddeo endorses Darden Rice for St. Pete Mayor". Florida Politics.
  32. ^ a b c d "Ken Welch claims most City Council endorsements in St. Petersburg mayor's race". Tampa Bay Times.
  33. ^ a b c d Hayes, Kelly (July 13, 2021). "Darden Rice nabs endorsements from former Council members Jim Kennedy, Virginia Littrell". Florida Politics.
  34. ^ "Building Bridges is excited to partner with @RoadmapProgress in supporting @DardenRice for Mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida". www.twitter.com. Building Bridges For America, 2021.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g "In St. Petersburg mayor's race, LGBTQ support divided between Rice and Welch". Tampa Bay Times.
  36. ^ "FCD 2021 Endorsed Candidates". www.flcollegedems.org. Florida College Democrats.
  37. ^ "Spotlight Candidate: Darden Rice". www.victoryfund.org. LGBTQ Victory Fund. Archived from the original on August 7, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  38. ^ "Meet Our 2021 Candidates". www.voteprochoice.us. 2021 #VOTEPROCHOICE. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  39. ^ "Deeply honored to have the @WorkingFamilies endorsement". www.twitter.com. Darden Rice For Mayor.
  40. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Ken Welch backers in St. Pete mayor's race include prominent Republicans". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  41. ^ a b c d "Rick Kriseman endorses Ken Welch in race for St Petersburg mayor". www.baynews9.com.
  42. ^ a b "Who should be St. Petersburg's next mayor? We have an answer". Tampa Bay Times.
  43. ^ "Darden Rice maintains fundraising lead in St. Petersburg mayor's race". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  44. ^ Companies, The 100 (June 15, 2021). "First debate set in St. Pete mayoral race". The Tampa Bay 100. Retrieved June 22, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  45. ^ "Eight St. Petersburg mayoral candidates debate their visions for the city". Tampa Bay Times.
  46. ^ a b c "Overview and Live Results: St. Petersburg Mayoral Election".
  47. ^ https://www.facebook.com/blackmon4stpete/videos/409473520803285 [user-generated source]
  48. ^ "Kevin Harrington Endorsement". YouTube. October 9, 2021.
  49. ^ blob:https://cityofstpetersburgfl.easyvotecampaignfinance.com/a1647788-6cd3-4b93-94d7-f7e29f1d9b48
  50. ^ a b Taylor, Janelle (September 14, 2021). "Kathy Castor, Janet Cruz endorse Ken Welch". Florida Politics. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  51. ^ "Tampa Mayor Jane Castor endorses Ken Welch for St. Petersburg mayor".
  52. ^ "What's next for Darden Rice? Perhaps working with Ken Welch in City Hall".
  53. ^ "Ken Welch says he has evolved since previous comments on LGBTQ, women's rights". Tampa Bay Times.
  54. ^ "Sierra Club honors intersectionality with campaign soiree for St. Pete Mayor, City Council candidates". October 18, 2021.
  55. ^ "Election results: Ken Welch declares victory over Robert Blackmon in St. Petersburg mayor race". November 2, 2021.
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Official campaign websites
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